Doing local politics in Scotland: Councillors, officers and communities

What is it that local councillors do when they go about their work? How do officers understand their role and engage within and beyond the council? How do communities connect with local councils and interact with councillors and officers?

A better understanding of these questions provides us with the necessary grasp of the everyday practices of local politics with which to formulate alternative visions for the future. Through contributing to current debates over the future of local democracy in Scotland, a new report by APSE, with contributions from a number of leading academics, draws attention to what it takes to do local politics, and to the everyday practices of local decision-making.

This new research for APSE Scotland focuses on the three worlds of local politics – that of the citizen, the council officer, and the councillor – and is interested in exploring what it takes to do politics in each of these worlds. Each entail different kinds of political work, which is undertaken on different terms and conditions. However, it is clear that these worlds only make sense in relation to one another.

By exploring the three worlds of the councillor, officer, and the citizen, we can see how they intersect, support, and affect one another. This report also makes six recommendations based on its conclusions that aim to put the stewardship capabilities and political work back into local politics in Scotland.

The full report is available to download for free. To purchase a hard copy, please complete the form below.

Promoting excellence in public services

APSE (Association for Public Service Excellence) is a not for profit unincorporated association working with over 300 councils throughout the UK. Promoting excellence in public services, APSE is the foremost specialist in local authority frontline services, hosting a network for frontline service providers in areas such as waste and refuse collection, parks and environmental services, cemeteries and crematorium, environmental health, leisure, school meals, cleaning, housing and building maintenance.